Building-block.



S. W". FINCH.

BUILDING BLOQK. .APPLlCATiON FILED FEB. 8. I916.

1,191,8, Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

S. W. FINCH.

BUILDING BLOCK- APPLICA'II'IO'N FILED FEB. 8, 1916.

Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

zw 25 r UNITED STATES PATENT 0m STANLEF W. FINCH, OF WASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF'COL U MIBIA.

1 summits-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application .filed February 8, 1916. Serial No. 76,964.

To all whom itmay concern Be it known that I, STANLEY W. FINCH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inBuilding-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to toy building-blocks, and moreparticularly to the manner of connecting the same.

- The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a block adapted to the purposes of myinvention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of one form of the connectoremployed to hold two or more blocks together; Fig. 3 a perspective View.

of another form or design of block; Fig. 4 an end elevation of suchblock and one of the'connectors in its normal or expanded condition,illustrating the difference in the width of the slot and the connector;Fig. 5 a top plan view thereof Fig. 6 a view'similar to Fig. 4, showingthe connector inserted, and in dotted lines a second superposed andconnected block; Fig. 7 a top plan view similar to Fig. 5, with theconnector inserted in the slot; Fig. 8 aperspective view of asquare-faced block with two connectorstherein, illustrating the factthat the conne'ctor may be inserted either endwise or vlew showing theconhectorinserted in a sidewise'; Fig. 9 a sectional elevation of theblock fshown in Fig. 8, illustrating more clearly-the manner in which itis grooved; Fig. 10 a sectional perspective of a particular or specialform of block; Figs. 11 and 12 views illustrating modifications of suchspecial form; Fig. 13 a perspective View of a varied form of theconnector; Fig l4.a perspective view of a block having one-or morecylindrical sockets adapted more especially. to receive a modified formof connector;

Fig. 15 a perspective view of such modified "connector; Fig. 16-2. likeview of a variation of the connector shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 anelevation of a block and a. connector prior to its insertion intheblock; Fig. 18 a plan thereof;'Fig. 19 a view similar to Fig. 17, withthe connect-or inserted, a second block being shown in dotted lines;Fig. 20 a plan block; Fig: 21 an elevation of a-square-faced block withan inserted connector and a tri- 'b d Figs. 22 to 29, inclusive, P p iveviews of various connectors embodying the underlying principles ofmyinvention.

The main object. of this invention is to produce a simple, strong anduniversal set of toy building-blocks, which may be economically producedand readily assembled by a child Without any special instructions as totheir use.

The essence of the invention residesin the formation of the woodenconnector, WhlCh may be compressed to reduce its thickness in the act ofinserting or forcing it into the co6perating socket or recess in theblock, the

pressure against the walls of the recess.

The connector is so formed that it may be Patented July 18, 1916. v

connector at all times maintaining a spring introduced into a socket orrecess having thickness slightly in excess of the width of the slot or.socket into which it is to be inserted and has a slot or saw-kerfextending inwardly from each end, said kerfs being denoted by 5 and 6.Said slotsor kerfs extend from side to side of the body and projectinwardly to such an extent that they pass or overlap,'so that theconnectormay be compressed or reduced in thickness throughout its entirelength. The normal thickness of the connector will be slightly greaterthan the width of the slot in the block, seeFigs. 4 and 5, and wheninserted therein the kerf will close, see'Figs. 6 and 7, therebyexerting a pressure, due to the spring of the wood, suflicient to holdthe connector in place.

The connectors may be inserted endwise or 'sidewise, see Fig. 8, theaction being the.

same. The block in this figure and Fig. 9 is square in side-elevation,anda groove 7 extends entirely around the same.

In Figs. 10 and 12 I have disclosed a composite block, adapted, whenconnected, to

form what may be termed unit blocks, that is, blocks of the dimensionsof that shown in Fig. 9 or, in the latter instance, correspond ing withthe block in Figs. 1 and 3.- Said blocks (Figs. lO'and 12) are eachformed of two elements (or blocks), 8 and 9, provided with complementalcurved faces 10 and 11, said curved faces being provided with grooves 12which merge into the other grooves extending about the sections. Saidtangular' blocks, or said sections may be used separately but inconjunction with other blocks to produce various structures, as will be'readily understood.

In Fig. 11 a somewhat similar form is shown, the line of separationbeing produced nearer one corner of the block.

In Fig. 13 a connector is shown which, while having overlapping slots asbefore described, has an elliptical outline, with flat sides.

Many blocks, as 1 3 in Fig. 14:, now made have cylindrical sockets 14;and the connector may be readily adapted thereto. Thus, in Fig. 15 thereis shown a block 15, of general cylindrical form, provided with two op-'positely-disposed, longitudinallyextending,

flattened faces 16 and 17, with a slot or kerf 18 and 19 extending inrespectively, from each end of the block, the slots overlapping andopening laterally through the flat faces 16 and 17.

In Fig. 16 a similar connector is shown, the overlapping slots 20 and 21in this instance extending inwardly from the respective flatened faces,and extending from end to end of the block.

Under either of these forms it will be readily appreciated that theblock may be compressed or narrowed slightly in the direction of itsgreatest diameter, or in other words upon the application of a slightpressure-on the opposite curved faces they will be brought closertogether and the connector may then with ease and facility be introducedinto the round socket 14. By having the opposite flat faces 16 and 17,and reducing the diameter by compression in a direction at substantiallyright angles thereto the cross area of the block is temporarily reducedand it may be readily positioned.-

In Figs. 17 and .18 the relative size of the socket 14 and the connectoris shown, and in Figs. 19 and 20 the connector is illustrated as inplace.

In Fig. 21 two blocks, one as 13 and a triangular one, 22, areillustrated with a connector in position.

In Fig. 22 a modified connector is shown, two. slots, as 23 and 24,extending in from one end, with two slots or kerfs 25 and 26 extendingin from the other.

Fig. 23 shows the same number of slots,-

but on in'from the sides.

Figs. 24 and 25 show cemplemental end and side slot arrangements, theslots alternating. j 1

Figs. 26 and 27 showflfurther self-explaining modifications.

. In Figs. 28 and 29 the connector is shown as elliptical incross-section, with three slots, the slots standing at right angles tothe major axis of the ellipse and the minor axis of the body beingslightly less than that of the opening into which the connector is to beinserted.

Compression of the block in the direction of its major axis will soreduce the cross area of the block that it may with ease and facility beinserted in the socket in the block.

While I have shown the slots in the various forms as parallel, it istobe understood that it is not essential that they be exactly so, solong as they extend inwardly and overlap.

Under all these constructions the same compressible and springaction maybe effected and the cross measurements of the connector readily reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a plurality of toy building blocks, each having arecesstherein for the reception of a connector; and a connector formedfrom a block of wood, with parallel slots extending lengthwise thereof,the slots overlapping at their inner ends.

2. In combination, a plurality of toy building-blocks, each having arecess therein for the reception of a connector; and a connectorcomprising a block of wood having inwardly-extending, substantiallyparallel, overlapping kerfs.

3. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body provided withoverlapping, substantially parallel kerfs.

4. A connector for toy building blocks, comprising a body provided withinwardlyextending, substantially. parallel kerfs, the kerfs at theirinner ends overlapping.

5. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion havinat least two oppositely-disposed, flattened aces with inwardlyextending, lengthwise L disposed kerfs, the kerfs at their inner endsoverlapping. v

6. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion havinga diameter greater in one direction than in the other, withinwardly-extending, overlapping slots, said slots standing at an angleto the major diameter of the body.

7. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion havingnon-alining, substantially parallel, overlapping kerfs extendinglengthwise thereof. 1

8. A connector for toy building-blocks,

comprising a body substantially circular in posed flattened,lengthwise-extending faces; and 'erfs formed in the block at rightangles to said faces, the kerfs overlapping at their inner ends.

9. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portionprovided with a kerf'extending inwardly from opposite ends or sidesthereof, the kerfs lying in different substantially parallel planes, theinner ends of the kerfs being adjacent to each other.

10. A connector for toy building-blocks,

comprising a body portion having a plurality of oppositely-extending,ofi-set slots interposed solid portion intermediate the I ends thereof,said solid portion being sus-' ceptible of being fiexed'transversely tothe direction of the slots, whereby the connector may be reduced inthickness when subjected to pressure in a direction substantially atright angles to the plane of the kerfs.

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification.

STANLEY W. FINCH.

